Paint Engineer (Automotive Manufacturing)

About This Role

A leading automotive manufacturer’s Paint Department is seeking a passionate Paint Engineer focused on paint application and production implementation. You will lead new paint material introductions for automotive production, support new model color launches, and manage the transition of materials from lab development to mass production. Reporting to the Materials Manager, you will independently manage the development and implementation of new materials, colors, and technologies for both the Body Paint and Bumper Paint departments — leading trials, process controls, scale-up, and material performance improvements. Note: pure laboratory or R&D roles without production or manufacturing exposure will not be a fit.

100% Onsite in Georgetown, Kentucky

30% Travel required (Mexico and Canada)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering field, or related experience
• 3+ years of project management working across multiple functions
• 2+ years in color and appearance evaluations
• 1+ years in paint design
• Hands-on experience in a paint shop or automotive manufacturing environment (pure lab/R&D without production exposure is not a fit)
• Exposure to production launch, scale-up, or change management
• Preferred: degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, or Materials Science; automotive paint production engineering; paint application / lab workability evaluation

Required Skills

• Paint application processes (especially topcoat)
• New color & material introduction / launch
• Color and appearance evaluation
• Paint design
• Lab workability & on-line testing
• Process controls & parameters
• Materials problem-solving
• Production launch / scale-up / change management
• Project management (cross-functional)
• Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint